Building block and wall



T Oct. 8, 1929. H. BROOKE 1,730,720

BUILDING BLOCK AND WALL Filed Dec. 23, 1926 INVENTIOR Howard Broake A' TORN Patented Oct. 8 19 29 UNITED STATES HOWARD BROOKE, F ENGLEWOOD, NEW JERSEY BUILDING BLOCK AND WALL Application filed December 23, 1923. serial No. 156,563.

My invention relates to buildings, building blocks, and walls constructed of molded units. The object of my invention is primarily to provide an improved form of building block 5 which may be used in building a composite wall comprising said blocks, bricks, and a cementing material to bind the blocks and brick into an integral whole.

A further object is to provide a block which may be made of molded material such as that described in U. S. Patent No. 1,201,840, granted to Francis T. Straub, comprising cinders and cement, which is light in weight, strong and fire-proof.

A further object is to provide a block that by reason of its form, will be strong and not easily broken in shipment from rough handling, and of a size suitable for use in constructing a wall in which the blocks form a backing and damp-proof portion and brick of standard dimensions form the exposed facing portion thereof, and provision whereby the brick portion and block portion of the wall are interlocked at regular and predetermined distances apart and in such manner relatively as to present a row of brick extending longitudinally of the wall and overlapping an adjacent row of blocks, which blocks are reduced in height on one side to correspond to the thickness of a single brick, and the remaining portion of the block having a height corresponding to the thickness of one or more bricks plus the thickness of the mortar or cement used in building the wall.

Referring to the drawings which form part of these specifications:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a block illustrating my invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevational end view of the wall in which the block is used.

Fig. 3 is a plan view taken on line 33 of Figure 2.

Fig. 4 is a plan view taken on line 4.-4 of Figure 2. l

The important element of my invention is the construction of the backing-block A. The form of this block may be readily understood from the drawings.

In Figure 1, the block is shown to have a recess A formed in each end extending the entire height thereof, and to consist of a solid back wall portion A and an oifset portion of reduced height indicated by A the difference in height corresponding to the thickness of one brick and a layer of mortar, as illustrated in Figure 2. Each block A is provided with openings A therethro ugh and located on each side of the median line through the middle of the block, and the walls inclosing the space A are formed to provide three sides with vertical walls a-aa and one side with an inclined wall a, (see Figure 2) which extends downward to the base of the block to form a substantially square opening, the back edge of which is practically in longitudinal alignment with the edge walls a of the block. The wall portion a extending from the top of the block to the offset portion is inclined to strengthen the solid backwall of the block. This construction provides a relatively narrow slot-like opening in the top of the ofiset portion of the block which is easily covered by the brick, and thus providing a large surface area for mortar and for supporting the header brick and at the same time permits a large amount of material to be removed from the under side of the block without materially weakening its construction, and also provide a block that will leave the mould easily and without breakage, due to the large draw clearance due to the inclined wall portions.

In building the wall, the recesses A of the adjacent blocks may be filled with mortar as illustrated, and thus provide interlocking keys to further strengthen the wall.

The wall comprises a rectangular shaped block A, the extreme width of the top and bottom being equal, and of a height corresponding to the thickness of two or more standard bricks and corresponding mortar layers, the bricks being indicated by B BB respectively, and the mortar layers by C-C respectively, thus bringing the top of the block A in horizontal alignment with the top plane of one brick and the bottom of the block in horizontal alignment with the bottom plane of another brick and this arrangement permits the person laying the wall to level up, and secure the surface plane of each block in a plane with that of the top of the brick.

The blocks A, are formed as shown to permit a course of brick F, known as header brick, to overlie the blocks for a distance equal to about one-half their width as illustrated at G; and form an interlocking of the facing wall of brick with the back wall of blocks, and the portion of the blocks cut away from the top corresponds in depth to the thickness of a brick plus one layer of mortar, as clearly indicated in Figure 2.

By using the coarse granular material com-' prising cinders in making the blocks, a facing mortar or cement H may be used and will firmly adhere to the face surfaces of the block and no grooves need be formed in the faces of the blocks such as'is necessary in constructing with tile blocks heretofore used.

In building a wall I may use a block A, then a block A. above it, then a block A and then another block A, which insures a closure of the vertical passages at predetermined distances apart, and forms closed pockets or cells D.

The specific form of the blocks A, is such as to give the necessary strength to the wall and also prevent breakage in handling.

As will be noted, the blocks A, are referred to herein as header blocks, for the reason that they are formed to engage with the header course of bricks F, are formed with plane surfaces, all of which are at right angles to each other with the exception of the inclined wall D, and there are no longitudinally extending passages through them, and therefore the crushing strength of the wall is great compared to a wall having blocks in which longitudinally extending passages are formed.

The header blocks and walls formed therewith are exceptionally strongfireproof and moistureproof due to the composition of materials used in the blocks, are low in cost to make and permit low labor cost in building the walls.

The aggregate used in making the header blocks to provide the moisture proof quality and their resistance to fire, consists of anthracite cinders and concrete mixed, the cinders forming a large part of the aggregate, which is then molded into form as illustrated in the drawings. This material provides a block having a great number of closed cells of rather large size which prevent capillary action and provides excellent heat insulating material, and the use of this block construction in a building wall prevents sweating of the inner wall of the building when changes of temperature occur, since the air is held in the closed chambers, and all circulation thereof in the wall is prevented.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new:

1. In building construction, a wall embodying courses of blocks made of cinders and cement to provide noncapillary cells in the aggregate, said blocks being laid in superimposed relation, each block having vertically extending openings therethrough and each alternate block having the openings in its upper end restricted in width; and header courses of brick, the inner ends of which overlie a portion of said blocks and cover said openings to provide closed cells which prevent circulation of air in the wall, said restricted openings serving to provide surfaces of increased area for the bricks to' rest upon to form a bond between said bricks and blocks.

2. In building construction, a wall embodying courses of blocks made of cinders and cement to provide a noncapillary cellular structure in the aggregate, said blocks being laid in superimposed relation, each block having a single row of openings extending vertically therethrough, the upper part ofwhich is restricted in width to provide surfaces of increased area for bricks to rest upon, said openings being located adjacent the inner face of the block, and header courses of brick the inner ends of which overlie said openings to form closed cells which prevent circulation of air in the wall. i

3. In building construction, a wall comprising courses of blocks laid in superimposed relation, certain of said blocks having a single row of openings extending therethru, the upper part of which is restricted in width to provide surfaces of increased area for bricks to restupon, said openings being located adjacent the inner face of the blocks, and header courses of brick the inner ends of which overlie said openings to form closed cells which prevent circulation of air in the wall.

1-. In building construction, a well comprising courses of blocks laid in superimposed relation, each block having vertically extend.- ing openings therein, and each alternate block having the openings in its upper end restricted in width, and header courses of brick the inner ends of which overlie a portion of said blocks and cover said openings to provide closed cells which prevent circulation of air in the wall; said blocks having substantially the same area and form on their upper and lower sides to permit said openings to register.

In testimony whereof I have a-flixed my signature.

HOVVARD BROOKE. 

